Dianne Buswell Reflects on Strictly Victory, Announces Pregnancy & Receives Outpouring of Support
A year after lifting the Glitterball trophy on Strictly Come Dancing, professional dancer Dianne Buswell is celebrating a milestone anniversary while also navigating a blossoming pregnancy and continued success on the hit BBC One show. The dancer has been inundated with messages of support from fans and colleagues as she prepares for the 2025 series finale.
Dianne Buswell and her dance partner, Chris McCausland, were crowned champions of the 2024 Strictly Come Dancing series on December 14, 2023, in a moment that resonated with audiences across the United Kingdom. The pair overcame stiff competition from finalists JB Gill and Lauren Oakley, Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec, and Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola to claim the coveted title.
Chris McCausland made history as the first blind contestant on Strictly, and his partnership with Buswell proved to be a captivating and inspiring journey. Their winning Waltz, set to the iconic Liverpool anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” not only secured their victory but also earned them the ‘Memorable Moment’ Bafta TV Award earlier this year. The duo reprised the performance in September as part of the launch of the current series, a tradition for reigning champions.
Ahead of the 2025 series final, scheduled for next Saturday, December 20, Buswell took to Instagram to commemorate the anniversary of their win. She shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram Story, stating, “A year ago we were crowned champs and still to this day dancing with Chris will still be the most magical experience in all my dance career @chrismccauslandcomedy.”
Buswell’s recent Instagram activity also showcased her support for her fellow dancers during the semi-final on December 13. She posted images of herself in a glittering off-the-shoulder gown, highlighting her pregnancy, and playfully referenced a moment with dancer Jake Leigh. “Di with a side of @jakeleigh__ [crying laughing and heart emojis],” she captioned the post, adding, “How did you all enjoy that amazing semi final? I LOVED IT.” The post quickly garnered a wave of positive comments, to which the expectant mother responded, “You are all so kind [face holding back tears and heart emojis].”
A recent video shared by Buswell on Instagram offered a poignant look back at her and McCausland’s journey. The clip juxtaposed footage from their initial video tapes (VTs) for the 2024 launch show with the triumphant moment of lifting the Glitterball trophy. Accompanying the video was a screenshot of a disheartening comment they received early in their Strictly experience: “Ok… in the nicest possible way… How is he going to dance? He’s blind… He’s not going to be able to see his partner’s steps or see where he’s going. I’m not being horrible… just confused about the signing.”
Buswell countered the negativity with a powerful message of resilience, writing across the first clip, “In life there will be people that constantly doubt you… it’s important you try your best and prove them wrong,” before concluding with a red heart and praying hand emojis and tagging her former dance partner. This display of vulnerability and determination underscores the inspiring narrative of their Strictly journey and continues to resonate with fans.
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